Las Cruces woman accused of running over and killing boyfriend

Victim died on his birthday

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Las Cruces police have arrested a woman they believe ran over and killed her boyfriend during a dispute early Wednesday morning.

Annette Larson Fuschini, 38, has been charged with an open count of murder and aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Fuschini's boyfriend, Carlos Nevarez Jr., was transported to Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Nevarez had just turned 42 on Wednesday.

Shortly after midnight Las Cruces police were dispatched to 2935 N. Main St. where officers found Nevarez on the side of the roadway unresponsive and with multiple injuries.

Police said that a noticeably intoxicated Fuschini was attempting to revive Nevarez but was relieved by the first-responding officer.

According to police, Fuschini and Nevarez were at a friend's home Tuesday evening, drinking alcohol. At some point during the evening Fuschini and Nevarez began arguing and, at around midnight, they left together with Fuschini driving her white 2008 Chevrolet pickup westbound on Main Street.

LCPD detectives determined that the couple continued arguing and on the 2900 block of North Main Street Nevarez exited the pickup and began walking away. Witnesses told police that Fuschini then ran over Nevarez and continued driving a short distance before walking back to check on him.

Witnesses said Fuschini roughly flipped Nevarez onto his back, hitting his head on the ground. According to court documents, she said, "I know CPR." Witnesses said Fuschini gave up after a few minutes saying, "I think I killed him."

"Emotions and alcohol just took over and obviously she did something she regrets but its final now. There's nothing you can really do," said Glenn Mayer, Fuschini's neighor.

Neighbors said they'd seen the couple arguing before.

"There had been a couple previous incidences when police had showed up for some disturbances and things like that. So we knew there was a pretense for something like this to happen but something as tragic as running someone down like that is unexpected and really really tragic," Mayer told ABC-7.

According to court documents, witnesses told police Fuschini slammed on her brakes and Nevarez got out of the truck.

Witnesses said Fuschini revved her engine, charged over the sidewallk and ran Nevarez over as he walked away.

"It's one of those things. We say this all the time. Don't drink and drive. If you have a problem with your anger when you're drinking then that's probably good reason not to drink," said Dan Trujillo, spokesman for the Las Cruces Police Department.

Friends of Nevarez told ABC-7 he was a likable man who got along with everyone. He was a former marine and a volunteer firefighter for the Fairacres Fire Department.

"Of the incidences I had seen he tried to walk away before. I'd seen him try to walk away and I guess she just wasn't going to have that this time," Mayer said.

According to court documents, Fuschini told police she could not remember what happened.

Police said she eventually admitted to running Nevarez over.

Fuschini was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond.

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